If we ask older generations to describe the food habits of the millennial generation, it isn’t unlikely they will cite an increase in junk food, a lack of importance placed on home-cooked meals, and habitually eating on the run.

However, millennials are really paving the way towards a series of food trends that demonstrate their decisiveness regarding the quality and type of food they desire.

The millennial generation grew up with smart phones and internet 24/7, meaning they constantly have access to just about any information they want. The rise of food and nutrition blogs, combined with the ease with which news is shared via social networks, make the most up-to-date food and nutritional research available to the general public.

As a result, people in their 20s are decisive about what they want. They look for grocery stores and restaurants that can cater to their well-informed likes and desires. This is because most of these trends are not simply about food choices. Rather, they are about lifestyle choices that have a direct effect on their health and on the world around them.

For this reason, restaurants, like Nanoosh, have developed their concepts to guarantee a guest experience that caters to this food-informed and environmentally aware generation of Millennials. And no, it isn’t just about offering “gluten free” or “vegan” options. It is about offering carefully-constructed meal choices that are good for the body and for the environment.

What are 3 of the things that millennials really look for?

Customized Food Options

It isn’t rare to find friend and family groups discussing the best place to eat. Your sister wants a salad, while your BFF wants a wrap, and you know neither of those are going to fill you up.

What’s better than having a meal that is customized to fit your cravings and those of your friends and family? Unlike other fast casual restaurants, Nanoosh has a variety of dish sizes, flavors, and presentations that allow everyone to satisfy their cravings and hunger and especially individual dietary needs.

Additionally, you are not alone if you experience drastic changes in cravings from one day to the next. No more of “the usual”. Millennials tend to want to try something different or variations of a similar meal so it’s always fun to go back.

Nanoosh’s Powerfood Plates allow you to choose from a variety of Mediterranean bases, protein, and toppings to meet your calorie needs, food restrictions and favorite tastes.

Snacks and Munchies

Why limit yourself to three meals a day? Millennials are reshaping eating habits across the world, as they are informed by research about how to boost your metabolism and keep energy up by trying to squeeze snacks that are healthy during breaks in their busy schedule.

There is no need to come into Nanoosh for a big meal. Pick a snack, a wrap, or something off our To-Go counter to tide you over until mealtime.

Natural and Organic, and Really Tasty

Research shows that millennials look for food options that are wholesome and healthy, but they aren’t willing to sacrifice taste. Organic, freshly-made, and authentic foods are all important labels. However, if they try the food and aren’t pleased with the taste, there is no going back.

At Nanoosh, we believe we are the “most organic” fast casual chain; we are committed to using a majority organic ingredients and all natural meats, while never compromising on rich and flavorful tastes. We are fully committed to being organic and list on our menu which ingredients are always 100% organic (instead of saying “organic when we can” like some of our competitors).

Want to read more about the wonders of ingredients found on Nanoosh’s menu? Check out our blog to read up on the ingredients and spices we use, and their benefits for your health.

Ask anyone what the quintessential American meal looks like and they’ll probably say, “A cheeseburger and fries,” and rightly so. This country has such a long history with fast food that it’s almost impossible to talk about the U.S. without mentioning fast food.

But the way we eat is changing, and it’s changing fast.

The Growth of Fast Casual Dining

According to market research from Euromonitor, “Fast casual dining has grown by 550 percent since 1999,” making fast casual a $21 billion a year industry. That’s more than ten times the growth of fast food over the same time frame. The numbers are clear; Americans want better food and they want it now.

Thanks to a massive shift in American eating habits and the booming fast casual dining movement of the past 15 years that iconic “American meal” is starting to look a lot healthier than mass produced, uniform portions roasting under a heat lamp. So to help you understand this rapidly shifting landscape, here’s a quick look at what’s driving America’s shift from Fast Food to Fast Casual.

The Informed Consumer

Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to how you fuel your body. Americans have begun asking more questions about how their food is grown, sourced, stored, transported, and prepared. People want more than just nutritional facts. They want nutritional answers.

Fast casual dining is a response to those growing health concerns that fast food has largely ignored. The days of being satisfied with “Mystery Meatloaf Monday” are long gone.

Trust and Transparency

This growing awareness in where our food comes from and how it’s cooked has made transparency and open access central themes of the fast casual dining movement. Open kitchens are almost taken for granted now, when just a few years ago your food came out of a chute in a windowless room.

At fast casual restaurants like Nanoosh, you see every step of food preparation for your meal right before your eyes in an open kitchen. That honesty creates trust in the quality of your food, which is something that’s been sadly lacking in fast food chains for years.

Prioritizing Quality without Sacrificing Time

It’s no surprise that millennials make up the largest group of fast casual fans. Their fast-paced lifestyle and attention to work life balance means that they need to pack as much nutrition into the shortest amount of time possible. Unhealthy, unsatisfying fast food just isn’t an option for today’s motivated professional. Luckily, fast casual dining is a healthy, speedy solution whose time has come.

The ability to eat organic, locally sourced food is worth the $7-$11 price range that typically separates fast casual from $3-$6 fast food. This slight cost increase more than makes up for itself in lasting energy and continued productivity throughout the day without that pesky afternoon sugar crash.

Millennials are simply investing in their future health one meal at a time. By choosing to eat high quality food and more thoughtful meals in a fast casual setting, millions of Americans are showing that their health matters as much as their time.

Americans have spoken—we want quality organic food, and we want it fast. Luckily, fast casual groups like Nanoosh have answered the call for great food in a timely manner. Stop by any of our five Manhattan locations and taste firsthand the difference that fast casual dining can make in your workday.

These days it seems like a new miracle seed or grain emerges from the depths of the Amazon rainforest or highest Himalayan peak every other week. Each promises to revolutionize your health, but they can’t all be winners.

A “healthy diet” is an extremely complex and deeply personal thing that can’t be solved with a one-size fits all superfood mentality. Just calling something a “superfood” doesn’t magically make it good for you. Yet it’s tough to ignore the newest health trends, and many superfoods are nutritious alternatives to processed foods.

Round and round you go.

So to help you get a little perspective on the next superfood trend (don’t worry there’ll be another one before you’re finished reading this article), here’s a quick look at recent superfood trends and 3 Simple Questions You Should Ask About Superfoods before lining up for that ancient grain latte:

What is My Diet Missing?

Today’s superfoods promise sweeping health benefits across the board, which is enticing but ultimately unrealistic. No single superfood is going to fix your heart condition, lower your cholesterol, clean your colon, give you night vision, and make you taller all while being gluten free and low in calories. Nutrition just doesn’t work that way.

The best superfoods provide one or two tangible health benefits and maybe, if you’re lucky, solve a few dietary concerns that other food doesn’t fix.

Quinoa for example, (the reigning superfood darling) delivers a few important (and specific!) health benefits:

It’s a source of Omega-3 fatty acids

It delivers significant protein per serving (1 cup = 8g protein)

It has significant amounts of 9 essential amino acids (“essential” amino acids are the ones you need but don’t naturally produce)

You can see the health benefits of quinoa in a 30-second glance and choose to incorporate this superfood into your daily diet if you need what quinoa has. Vegans might use quinoa as a great protein source or a healthy reservoir of Omega-3 fatty acids for anyone looking to eliminate fish from their diet.

The best superfoods provide what your diet is missing.

How is it Prepared?

When it comes to the health benefits of a superfood, preparation is everything. Sure, kale is a great source of magnesium and aids in digestion, but none of that matters if you drown a kale salad in ranch dressing, bacon bits, and half a pound of ham. The preparation is what makes a superfood super. Matcha green tea is a great example.

Matcha stormed the superfood scene a few years ago, and while it packs a potent antioxidant punch without the harsh caffeine crash of coffee, the health benefits of matcha tea all depend on how you drink it.

Traditional matcha preparation—mixing certified pure matcha leaf powder with clean boiled water—is an excellent beverage and far superior in almost every metric to coffee. However, the second you add sugar, milk, sweeteners, flavors, and even chocolate to the mix, the health benefits of matcha vanish. A matcha frappuccino with caramel and whipped cream isn’t a healthy smoothie. It’s an expensive slurpee.

A superfood that has to be dressed up in sweeteners, added ingredients or unhealthy sauces isn’t a superfood. It’s a fad. That’s what makes the Mediterranean diet such a reliable source of superfood goodness—traditional recipes that rely on fresh daily preparation using quality organic ingredients. Superfoods health benefits are all about how you use them.

Am I Actually Going to Eat This?

This last question relates directly to the second question, but asks you to be a little more honest with yourself. It’s not, “Should I eat this superfood?” but rather, “Will I eat this superfood?”

Will you really have a spinach shake for breakfast?

Will you happily eat raw lentils for dinner?

Healthy eating is all about the long term; the aggregate results. If you need to “take a break” from a superfood every week or “treat yourself” to a cupcake every other day, your diet isn’t very super. And the problem isn’t nutrition, it’s taste.

Taste and health are directly related. Of course they’re related. If you don’t want to eat a superfood, it’s practically worthless. Too often superfoods are healthy, but taste awful unless they’re drenched in unhealthy ingredients and sauces. The health benefits of broccoli rabe don’t matter if it rots in your crisper drawer. What’s crazy is that superfoods don’t have to taste like tree bark to be healthy.

The Mediterranean, birthplace of the Olympic Games. For centuries, ancient Greek champions pitted themselves against the best athletes in the world for the right to crown themselves victors, favored by Zeus and the other Gods of Olympus.

The Olympics have changed a little in over the past two thousand years—victors now get medals instead of olive branch crowns, and Greece doesn’t exactly top the podium much anymore—but the pursuit of excellence that the Mediterranean inspired all those years ago still unites the entire world every few years in a competition unlike anything else on Earth.

However, the Olympics aren’t just about amazing feats of strength, speed, and skill. The enduring legacy of the Olympics is how it brings people from diverse countries and cultures together, even amidst fierce competition.

So to celebrate that rich diversity and say goodbye to the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio, here are a few signature dishes from four medal-winning Mediterranean countries that kept the Olympic spirit alive this year:

Greece (3 Gold, 1 Silver, 2 Bronze)

Hummus & Veggie Wrap

Since Greece is the home of the Olympics, it’s only fitting to start your exploration of Mediterranean cuisine at its foundation—hummus.

This ancient staple of practically every single Mediterranean kitchen might possibly be the world’s oldest snack food. Made with organic chickpeas, fresh cucumber, tomatoes, mixed greens, mint, olive oil, and a dollop of creamy tahini all wrapped in pita bread—a fresh, delicious organic hummus and veggie wrap might just be the Platonic ideal of Mediterranean food.

Jordan (1 Gold)

Jordanian Mansaf

Whoever coined the Jordanian proverb, “Even when you’re full, you can always eat forty more bites of food,” must have been a fan of Mansaf.

Considered the unofficial national dish of Jordan, Mansaf—like so many Mediterranean meals—owes its distinct flavor to the sauce.Jameed, a hard, fermented goat milk yoghurt/gravy is poured over the rice and lamb for a delicious fusion of salt, sour, and smoky flavor. You can literally taste Jordan in every earthy bite.

Egypt (3 Bronze)

Ful wa Ta’meya (Fava Beans and Falafel)

Ful mudammas (fava beans) and Ta’meya (falafel) are the original Egyptian fast casual food. In fact, they’re kind of a staple of the Egyptian diet.

Made from slow-simmered fava beans, this richly textured stew is served with Ta’meya falafel—a fava bean-based twist on classic falafel recipes (a lot like our vegan-friendly baked falafel). If you’re looking to push your falafel game to the next level, this is the dish for you.

Tunisia (3 Bronze)

Tunisian Boiled Eggs and Shakshuka Sauce

If you haven’t tried it yet, shakshuka is an aromatic, slightly spicy stew that combines a chunky mix of organic tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, garlic, cumin, and olive oil to deliver a robust, earthy sauce perfect for group snacking. Top it off with boiled Tunisian eggs and serve with some pita bread to wow everyone at your next brunch get-together.

Versatile enough to be a side or a meal, shakshuka goes with practically anything—like a tuna sandwich!

No matter where they’re held every four years, the spirit of the Summer Olympics will always be rooted in the culture and tastes of the Mediterranean. Stop by any of our five convenient Manhattan locations and celebrate that pursuit of excellence with your own gold medal Mediterranean dish. We promise, you’ll feel like a champion.

Summer time in the city is too short to waste inside hugging your air conditioner. You gotta get out there and dance in a fire hydrant, fly a kite, and maybe even drink in a beer garden, before it’s too late, because even though it might not feel like it now, winter is coming, New Yorkers.

So here are 4 Healthy Drinks to Help You Beat the Summer Heat. Stay cool, and see you out there!

Hibiscus Berry Iced Tea

Hibiscus iced tea might be the most popular iced beverage you’ve never heard of. Renowned the world over for its ruby red color, distinct tanginess, and tart refreshing flavor, hibiscus iced tea goes by a few different names.

It’s called Bissapin West Africa, Gul e Khatmi in Persian, Agua de Jamaica in Honduras and Mexico, Orhul in India, and Karkadé in Egypt. Call it Roselle, Sorrel, or Soobolo; we think you’ll not only call it “delicious,” but nutritious.

Several studies, including one from the USDA and American Heart Association, have shown that three glasses of hibiscus tea a day significantly reduced blood pressure and hypertension in adults. What’s even better is that you can drink this delicious beverage chilled without losing any of it’s heart health benefits—at least that’s the way we make it!

Pro tip: Clap a sprig of mint in your palm before you stir it into your tea. It bruises the leaf and adds a powerful minty aroma to every sip.

Organic Lemonade

At Nanoosh, we know it’s not really summer without an ice-cold glass of fresh lemonade. That’s why we prepare our homemade lemonade from the freshest ingredients every single morning. We know how important quality is, especially with the classics.

The health benefits of fresh organic lemonade are far reaching. Packed with vitamin C and E, along with minerals like potassium, organic lemonade is one of the simplest and healthiest ways you can beat the heat this summer. Just don’t fall for sweetened imposters claiming to be the real thing.

Pro Tip: Mix it up with a bit of savory basil instead of mint. You’ll be surprised at the what a difference it makes.

When you drink a hot beverage your core temperature spikes for a few seconds, making you to sweat more than you were just a minute before. Refreshing, right?

The main reason we sweat is to release body heat, so think of drinking hot tea like tossing a bunch of coal into the engine of a train—it makes the engine burn hotter, which means that the conductor has to let out steam quick (toot toot!).

The trick with our bodies is that when you sweat from a hot drink, you release way more heat than you would have without the tea—and very quickly, too. Which basically means that right after drinking a hot beverage your body temperature goes down, but —and this important—only if your sweat evaporates right away.

Sadly, this life hack just doesn’t work in humid environments. So if you’re fighting the heat on a humid July day in New York, it might be best to stick with hibiscus iced tea.

At Nanoosh we obsess over everything you eat—or drink!—ensuring it’s made only from the best ingredients we can find. Made fresh everyday, our range of organic beverages is sure to quench your thirst this summer without the sugary crash that will leave you stuck inside and missing out on all the fun.

Greats like Hitchcock and Rossellini along with modern icons like Wes Anderson have consistently lured A-list celebrities including Ingrid Bergman, Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Bill Murray and Matt Damon to this cinematic corner of the world to shoot some of the most visually stunning and iconic films ever made.

Luckily, outdoor movie season in New York is in full swing, so pack some hummus, grab a blanket and find one of these classic Mediterranean-set films playing in a park near you to experience these films the way they were meant to be seen—outside with delicious Mediterranean food on your blanket.

Here’s a list of our Top 5 Classic Films set in the Mediterranean:

To Catch a Thief (1955)

This classic Hitchcock film stars cat burglar John Robie (Cary Grant) trying to clear his name while falling in love with Riviera socialite Francie, (Grace Kelly). It’s Hitchcock, so there’s plenty of suspense, innuendo, and artful cinematic suggestion—including a fireworks display that abruptly cuts away so suggest the passion between the Grant and Kelly.

Shot off the coast of Nice, this film was one of the earliest examples of the brilliant hues Technicolor could bring to the big screen, making the Mediterranean coast the obvious setting for this visual masterpiece.

L’avventura (1960)

When a woman goes missing off the coast of the Aeolian Islands—an archipelago north of Sicily—two friends search for her. What ensues is an atypical mystery set amidst the stunning beauty of the Mediterranean sea.

This arthouse film is the essence of controversial—it was actually booed at the Cannes Film Festival for its languid insistence that “some mysteries don’t need to be solved.” However, the lingering pans and overwhelming ennui have made it a classic. A genre defining landmark film, but maybe not the best first date idea…

Zorba and the Greek (1964)

The trailer for this three-time Academy-award winning film says it all:

“When Zorba talks, you listen. When Zorba drinks, you taste it. When Zorba loves, you feel it, because this is a man who devours life as if it were a beast. A man who never puts off til tomorrow what he can enjoy today.”

Starring Anthony Quinn as the titular Zorba, this film is a Mediterranean voyage across the sand, sea, culture and people of Greece. Full of romance, action, revenge, and passion—50 years later, Zorba the Greek is still captivating.

Le Mépris (1963)

French New Wave filmmaker, Jean-Luc Godard is perhaps best known for his raw sensuality. Le Mepris (Contempt), is a film about a film—an ancient Greek epic—set on the island of Capri. Conflict arises between the writer and producer amidst the lush backdrop of Casa Malaparte—a stunning modernist villa overlooking the azure sea.

If you’re a fan of Journey to Italy (1954), it’s a must watch. Honestly, the long shots in this film read like tourism propaganda.

The Life Aquatic (2004)

The only modern film on this list, Wes Anderson’s kitschy look at Jacques Cousteau-esque marine conservationist and filmmaker Steve Zissou (Bill Murray) is too good to ignore. This modern day Moby Dick narrative pits one passionate man against the entire Mediterranean—complete with jaguar sharks, pirates, storms, and more. Driven by stunning visuals, and Anderson’s unique brand of comedic storytelling, this film reimagines the classic vengeance narrative.

If you haven’t seen this film yet, find an outdoor screening somewhere near you immediately. It’s a popular choice for summer screen NYC.

Honorable Mentions:

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

Pink Panther

The 300

Jason and the Argonauts

Ben-Hur

Mamma Mia!

Count of Monte Cristo

The Sea Hawk (a 1924 silent film about pirates. Watch it.)

At Nanoosh, we’re all about healthy wholesome food that complements whatever you want to do outside—even if it’s just watching a movie under the stars. For the best possible moviegoing experience, grab your blanket, pack a Mediterranean picnic, and enjoy any of these Mediterranean films to the fullest at your next outdoor movie.

The summer season is in full swing, which means hot days, long nights, and of course—picnics!

Picnics and summer go together like peanut butter and jelly—or in this case hummus and pita. Mix things up with these delicious Mediterranean-inspired picnic recipes and wow your friends and family the next time you spread your checkered blanket in the park. What better way to celebrate summer than with a Mediterranean beach-themed picnic!

Starters

Hummus & Pita
Hummus and pita bread is not only a classic, simple finger food, it might be the oldest snack food on the planet. Some records date this staple snack to 10,000 BC, and it’s no wonder it’s still around today. Hummus is packed with vitamins and minerals, and at Nanoosh, our organic chickpeas are sourced directly from Mediterranean farms for authenticity and goodness you can taste.

Pro tip: Add a mix of carrots, celery, and even sliced bell peppers for dipping.

Tzatziki & Other Sauces
Every Mediterranean picnic starts with dipping, and while hummus is the most obvious choice there are tons of other authentic Mediterranean sauces—like hearty shakshuka, creamy tahini, and cooling tzatziki—you can add to the mix.

Fresh Salads
Watermelon Salad with Feta Cheese, Mint, and Lime
If caprese isn’t your cup of tea, beat the heat and impress your friends with a salad that’s sure to satisfy. Made up of cubed watermelon slices, fresh feta cheese, refreshing mint leaves, and a zest of lime juice, the Greek Watermelon Salad is guaranteed to be a party favorite.

Farro Mixed Bean Salad
When cooked just right, this grain has a natural bite and chewiness to it that will make surprise and delight any first timer. Simply boil 1 cup of farro for 10-15 minutes and when cooked add a mix of shelled edamame bean, chopped broccoli, green onions, chopped olives and parsley all tossed in olive oil, lemon zest. So fresh, it’s practically summer in a bowl.

Main Courses

Chicken & Hummus Wrap
Nothing says classic Mediterranean like an all-natural chicken wrap. This simple recipe of diced grilled chicken breast, fresh mixed greens, and a blend of tahini and hummus spread on pita bread is perfect for picnics. Easy to hold and even easier to eat, make sure you bring enough for everyone!

Moroccan Rice Pudding
Finish your picnic strong with a dessert that is sure to leave everyone talking! This classic eastern Mediterranean dessert is all about the preparation—first you boil the rice in water, then simmer it in milk for that delectable texture and taste.

For best results use organic arborio rice and make sure you don’t rush the simmer! Top with toasted almonds for the perfect finish to the perfect Mediterranean picnic.

Pro Tip: If you don’t have the time (or culinary skills!) to prepare the perfect Moroccan Rice Pudding, there’s another way. Just fill up a cooler with ice and grab a few rice pudding cups from Nanoosh on your way to Central Park. Portable and delicious, and people will love it.

At Nanoosh we’re all about good authentic food on the go to keep you outside and active this summer. Make your next picnic in the park a Mediterranean buffet and taste for yourself what millions of people already know.

June is finally here which means school is out and your kids are running free until September. While this means freedom for your munchkins, it also means more work for you, filling the lunch-shaped hole left behind by those missing school lunches.

An extra meal everyday is a lot to handle, but your kids deserve better than microwaved pizza and frozen chicken nuggets. Don’t panic, because making healthy delicious summer lunches doesn’t have to be a chore. Just borrow a page from Greece.

Greek School Lunches

American children aren’t exactly known for their love of vegetables, but that’s normal, right? Kids aren’t supposed to like broccoli, carrots, and brussel sprouts. Or are they?

In Greece, typical school lunches consist of 3-4 servings of vegetables, which sounds insane when compared to the U.S. National School Lunch Program’s meager 1-2 vegetable servings. But what’s even more interesting is that the Greek kids actually eat their vegetables, unlike the often discarded veggie cups in many American lunchrooms.

The secret, says Elena Paravantes, Greek-American writer and registered dietician, is in the preparation:

“Here in Greece we eat vegetables as a main course, we cook all sorts of vegetables in olive oil and tomato. And then we eat this with bread and cheese, and it’s delicious. The Spanish do this and so do the Italians.”

So, this summer take a page from the Greeks and try out these simple Mediterranean lunch options. Who knows, with recipes like this you might finally get your kids hooked on veggies before they head back to class.

Peas in Olive Oil and Tomato (Arakas Latheros)

Named after the Greek word for oil (“lathi”) Arakas Latheros—peas in olive oil and tomato—is a simple peasant-inspired vegetarian dish.

To make this timeless Mediterranean dish, simply saute diced onions, then add water, salt, pepper, parsley (or dill) and tomatoes and bring to a boil. Add peas and carrots, cover, and simmer.

Alternatives: If your kids don’t like peas, substitute okra or green beans for an even more authentic Mediterranean meal.

Bean and Cheese Salad

This delicious salad is as simple to make as its name suggests. All you need is a little lemon juice, olive oil, kidney beans, cucumber, and some feta cheese.

Whisk the lemon juice and olive oil together (season with black pepper if you like), then toss in a handful of cannellini beans (white kidney beans), feta cheese crumbles, and sliced cucumber. Finish it off with some croutons or pita shreds, and mix and match a few extra ingredients—like corn or diced tomatoes—for your perfect blend.

Mediterranean Panzanella

While it sounds fancy, “panzanella” is just a popular Tuscan-style summer salad. It’s actually made using whatever seasonal ingredients you have at hand, so don’t be afraid to mix it up.

For instance, day-old or toasted bread cubes make great croutons, and cubed tomatoes, crumbled feta cheese, sliced cucumbers, and kalamata olives round out the recipe. Top with a drizzle of olive oil and a squeeze of lemon juice and add salami if you’re craving some protein. Simple and delicious.

Turkey-Cheese Pita Pockets

Nothing beats the ease and simplicity of a sandwich, but peanut butter and jelly gets old fast. Mix it up with a Mediterranean twist on an American staple—the turkey sandwich.

Summer Food on the Run

At Nanoosh, we’re dedicated to good food that’s good for you, and easy to make meals for life on the go. Mediterranean food is the perfect recipe for simple, delicious meals packed with energy to keep you and your kids going this summer. So pack a Mediterranean lunch and get out there and enjoy the summer, because before you know it, your kids will be back in school and you’ll miss making all those “hectic” summer lunches more than you think.

It’s that time of year again, New Yorkers. Time to hop on the train, get down to Coney Island and remember that this concrete jungle is literally surrounded by water. Summer in the City is here and it’s time to get outside and embrace your mischievous nature at the 34 annual Mermaid Parade, in Coney Island on June 18th, 2016 from 1-4pm.

The Mermaid Parade is the nation’s largest “art parade” and Coney Island’s busiest day of the year, with tens of thousands of spectators expected along the parade route, and it’s not too hard to see why the Mermaid Parade is so popular. With over 3,000 mermaid “subjects,” quirky floats, antique cars, and some of the most creative handmade costumes you’ll ever see, the Mermaid Parade definitely fulfills its goal of “bringing mythology to life.”

The chance to glimpse a mermaid has enticed people for centuries, but, like so many things, the original story of the mermaid begins in the Mediterranean…

The First Mermaids

Ever since men could sail, they’ve been telling tales of the sea. Naturally, the first myths and legends of lonely sailors in the Mediterranean included accounts of beautiful elusive sea nymphs that existed just out of reach. However, the first mermaids were a far cry from our modern concept of the friendly energetic men and women at the Coney Island Mermaid Parade. In fact, the original mermaids were downright deadly.

Siren Song of the Sea

The original Greek name for mermaid—“Seirén”—is related to the word for rope and literally means “ones who tie or grab.” Since their creation, mermaids have been hazardous creatures that enchant and fascinate anyone who sees—or hears—them. In Homer’s Odyssey—the first written account of mermaids—Odysseus has to literally tie himself to the mast to avoid drowning himself to reach the singing mermaids because of their irresistible siren song (there’s that whole “rope” thing again).

Even though the concept of the mermaid has changed across the globe over the years—in Scotland mermaids are half salmon, in ancient China pearls were mermaid tears, and mermaids were funeral emblems in Assyrian empire—mermaids never cease to capture our imagination.

The Mediterranean Mermaid: Between Two Worlds

The mermaid, a creature that exists between two worlds—both land and sea—is an excellent symbol of the fluid, ever-changing culture and history that makes the Mediterranean itself so captivating. Every Mediterranean nation from Greece to Morocco calls this sea home. Each is tied to it for food, for trade, and for stories that have thrill and excite people for millennia, and will enchant us for millennia to come.

At Nanoosh, we love mermaids, because they remind us that just like them, New York exists between two worlds—city and ocean, concrete streets and Coney Island sand. Pack some traditional Mediterranean hummus, take the train to the beach this summer and remember to enjoy all the sights, sounds, smells, and sensations that New York has to offer, because like mermaids, the great summer weather will be gone in the blink of an eye.

The “Mediterranean Diet” has been front page health news for the past few years, with doctors, health blogs, and morning shows proclaiming the virtues of traditional Mediterranean food. Heck, even Harvard says the Mediterranean diet is “effective at warding off heart attack, stroke, and premature death.”

Which is all wonderful, except…what exactly is Mediterranean food?

The Mediterranean is Crowded

Depending who you ask, the Mediterranean consists of roughly 23 countries, with obvious inclusions like Greece, Italy, Spain and Turkey, along with lesser known Mediterranean border states like Albania, Slovenia, Malta, and Algeria. Each nation brings millennia of culture, tastes, and unique ingredients to the table (literally) so deciding on any one “authentic” Mediterranean diet is difficult. However, despite the hundreds of recipes a few unifying themes and food trends tie this complex region together throughout the centuries.

Mediterranean Food: The Basics

Spreads, Sauces, and Dips, Oh My!
No matter where it’s from, the one thing Mediterranean food has in common is that you’re going to eat a lot of it with your hands. Sauces, dips, pastes, and spreads—like tahini, shakshuka, and hummus—are the cornerstone of practically every Mediterranean meal, and beg to be enjoyed with practically everything.

Hummus for instance—a simple spread made from chickpeas, lemons, garlic, and tahini—is one of the oldest foods on the planet, dating back nearly 10,000 years. You’ll find it in sandwiches, on wraps, or scooped up with pita bread (or just your finger; we won’t tell) everywhere from Spain to Lebanon.

Typically mild, Mediterranean food derives most of its flavor from mixing and matching spreads and sauces to customize each bite to your taste.

Pita Bread
As good as they are, you can’t live on Mediterranean sauces alone—you need something to spread them on! Luckily, pita bread is the delicious foundation for most Mediterranean meals.

Literally translated as “pie” or “cake” in Greek, pita bread can be found on tables from North Africa to the Arabian Peninsula. Rich in energy—like most ancient food stuffs—pita bread forms the light fluffy base for chicken shawa wraps, baked falafel, and veggie gyros, not to mention twists on delicious classics like labneh and zaatar.

Nibble pita on it’s own, dip it into tzatziki, or pile it high with marinated beef and greens. No matter where you go, pita bread is a fundamental part of Mediterranean cuisine.

Salads: More than Just Dressing
The Mediterranean cuisine isn’t all meat and bread—far from it. In fact, a large portion of the recommended “Mediterranean Diet” consists of fruits, vegetables, nuts, ancient grains, and of course greens.

Kale, spinach, and other leafy greens like arugula form the base of most Mediterranean style salads. What typically sets Mediterranean salads apart from their American brethren is the rich blend of fruits, veggies, and nuts. Ingredients like walnuts, mint, olives, tomatoes, raisins, and feta are common Mediterranean salad staples.

At Nanoosh we even fuse traditional Mediterranean style salads with fresh organic ingredients from other parts of the world—like quinoa—to bring the health benefits of the Mediterranean into the 21st century.

Seafood
It’s no coincidence that Mediterranean food is named after the massive sea that made up the heart of the Ancient world. Cultures from the Greeks to Egyptians harvested fish, seafood, and even the salt itself from the surf to flavor and prepare their meals.

Seafood and fresh fish are important parts of any Mediterranean diet, and the same Harvard study found what millions of Mediterranean grandmothers know to be true—enjoy fresh fish at least twice a week for health benefits that will last for decades.

The Original Melting Pot

The Mediterranean has been a rich melting pot of cultures, ingredients, flavors, and tastes since man first began to sail along its ancient shores. Taste the fusion of old and new at Nanoosh and embrace the delicious health benefits of one of the most enduring diets on earth.